DBM asking agencies to submit budget execution plans

A little more than two months left before 2017, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) wants agencies to submit their spending plans for next year.

Under Circular 2016-9 dated Oct. 27, the DBM asked departments and offices to submit budget execution plans on or before Nov. 29.

“Government agencies shall execute their programs and projects as authorized in the annual budget and deliver planned results in a timely manner,” the circular stated.

This, it said, is meant to ensure that agencies spend “to achieve meaningful national development under the current administration.”

In a text message yesterday, Budget Undersecretary Laura Pascua said the circular was actually just to “remind” the agencies to submit their spending plans, which has been done in previous years.

The Duterte administration is aiming to spend P3.35 trillion next year, 11.6 percent up from this year’s allocation. The outlay was already approved by the Lower House.

The budget includes an P860.9-billion funding for infrastructure, which the Duterte administration aims to accelerate after years of underspending due to agencies’ incapacity to absorb large funds.

Under the circular, offices were tasked to submit financial and physical plans that will lay out projects and their commensurate funding source every quarter.

An annual procurement plan should also be prepared, together with a monthly disbursement program. DBM will evaluate and approve the execution plans.

In case of possible delay in spending, measures should also be laid out on how to recover.

“Determination of the fiscal outlook for the remaining months of the year as input to cash programming and monitoring, specifying the catch-up plans/measures to be undertaken by the unit concerned,” the circular said.